I am very grateful for the support I have received over social media in the wake of George Floyd’s death and widespread protests against racial injustice. Although I am a very private person, I feel it is important to share some of my experiences as a black man outdoors, as a photographer, and living in a van. The sad truth is I always feel a little scared and extra weight on my shoulders.
Even when I am out photographing black and grizzly bears I am more afraid of being harassed or killed by people.
I have been pulled aside by both rangers and “Photographer Patties” and asked to abide by rules no one else around me is following.
I have been pulled over by cops and asked how could I afford a Mercedes Sprinter van.
I was stopped by rangers because a white lady reported I stole a cellphone and kidnapped someone. With no one around and while carrying multiple tripods and 20 pounds of camera equipment, I was still forced to prove I was just a photographer.
While in a private community, visiting my dad in San Francisco, I sat in my van overlooking the skyline. Suddenly we were surrounded by more than a dozen cops, many with guns drawn. I had to explain to each new officer arriving on scene why I was there. My driver’s license clearly listing an address on the same street.
While eating lunch outside an apartment building and private tennis complex (where I worked) I was surrounded and accused of casing houses and using a nice van as cover.
In Lake Tahoe I was accused of shooting bears (with guns) and using the van to transport their dead bodies.
I have been asked what I am doing in an area and what I am concealing under my puffy jacket while hiking in the winter.
I have been the only photographer told to move because there were too many people photographing in an area even when I was first on the scene.
I have been the only photographer asked to move their vehicle and forced to park over quarter mile away.
These are some of the experiences I have had in the past four years. Fortunately they are small compared to what I faced growing up. However, while I am older and stronger, they still weigh heavily on me. They always affect my thoughts and decisions on where and when to travel, I never feel absolutely free.
You can see Tsalani’s work on his Instagram page and his website.
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thanks for sharing your story here
it’s so easy for white people to ignore how this affects poc everyday
Thank you, Tsalani, for bringing more awareness to the journeys of others who are perceived to stand outside the norm, pun intended. The outdoor experience is good medicine for all souls and can only improve our societal relationships. I appreciate your drive and respect your place in the outdoors.
Thank you sir! TSALANI LASSITER, I’m sharing far & wide.,
Thank you for sharing. We’re listening. I hope to meet you in the outdoors someday.
AJ, I didn’t any links from this essay to Tsalani? To learn more. Of course Google helped me out. Apologies if I missed any links. Love the magazine, the newsletters, and the people to whom you introduce me! Thanks!
I also own a big euro van, I’m Caucasian, I have parked all over the place, and not once have I had someone investigate me, nor have I ever been questioned by an officer of the law.
It’s amazing to me that many people don’t think racism is a daily event.
Denial is a hard thing to overcome, especially when fixing the problem requires accepting resposibility.
Thank you for this eye opening account of what you deal with. More has to be done by myself, as a white person in the outdoors, to not only be inclusive (as my trail running group is) but also to be vocal and stand up when injustices occur.
Thank you.
Thank you for sharing.
You are courageous and your story is well stated.
Thank you for sharing your story. It is disheartening to me that in today’s age so much ignorance still exists. Every American should be able to share the same experience in the outdoors. I always have and will continue to do my part to make the outdoors a place of equality.
I encourage others who have stopped here to do their part too. Listen. Think. Speak up. Vote.